Liberia Overview

Liberia is the oldest republic in Africa, but it became better
known in the 1990s for a long-running and devastating civil war and
its role in a rebellion in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Liberia was founded by freed American and Caribbean slaves, but
the population is mostly composed of indigenous Africans.

The West African nation was relatively calm until 1980 when an
overthrow of the government following food price riots brought in a
period of instability. By the end of the decade, the
situation devolved into open civil war with rebel groups, the
Liberian army and West African peacekeepers battling each other.
Although peace was restored in 1995, anti-government fighting
broke out again in 1999. War continued until 2003 when
President Charles Taylor, accused of backing rebels in neighboring
Sierra Leone, bowed to international pressure, stepped down and
went into exile. A transitional government guided the nation
to free elections in 2005 when Ellen Sirleaf Johnson was elected
President of Liberia. She won re-election in 2011.

Approximately one quarter million people were killed in
Liberia's civil war and many thousands more became refugees because
of the fighting. The conflict left the country in economic ruin.
Public utilities are still limited or non-existent.
Unemployment remains high, and the country relies heavily on
foreign assistance for revenue. The security situation is
still fragile, and the United Nations maintains a large
peacekeeping operation.

Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products,
primarily raw timber and rubber and is reviving those
sectors. The country has rich natural resources including
water, minerals, forests, and a climate favorable to
agriculture. Liberia has the distinction of having the
highest ratio of direct foreign investment to GDP in the world.

Liberia's economic future will depend on generous financial and
technical assistance from donor countries and private foreign
investment to rebuild the infrastructure and raise incomes.

Here are some selected links that connect to current information
about what is happening in Liberia.